Random observations from Rick Scott’s stop in Orlando Thursday to introduce his lieutenant governor choice, state Rep. Jennifer Carroll.

– Carroll got off the best line of the day — always nice when your LG pick displays wit — when she pointed out that both she and Scott served in the Navy.

“But,” Carroll smiled, “he didn’t go as far as I did.”

Carroll retired as a lieutenant commander. Scott reached the rank of Petty Officer, 3rd class.

– Scott and Carroll arrived to the strains of “Independence Day,” a Martina McBride song that conservative yakker Sean Hannity uses on his radio show.

Don’t know who made that call, but it seemed a little aggro for the event. Check out the lyrics:

Let freedom ring …  (Sure, freedom’s cool)
Let the white dove sing … (Doves are nice)
Let the whole world know that today is the day of a reckoning … (Wait, day of what?)
Let the weak be strong
Let the right be wrong
Roll the stone away
Let the guilty pay …  (Um, this is starting to sound a little bloodthirsty)
It’s Independence Day

Campaigns can be rough for sure, but this makes it sound like the GOP is actually declaring war on the Dems.

– And lastly, Scott, in his stump speech, has been promising to make Florida the most business-friendly state in the nation. This line is typical:

“You need a governor who says, ‘I like business people.’”

Ah, yes.

Lord knows Florida has suffered under the iron-fisted rule of all those pro-labor, anti-business guvs like Charlie Crist, Jeb Bush, Lawton Chiles and Bob Martinez.

Comrades all, right?

After his morning fundraiser at Associated Industries of Florida, Republican Rick Scott continues the rounds in Tallahassee today with a $10,000 a person fundraiser at the offices of health care lobbyists Jon Johnson and Travis Blanton at 3:30 p.m. today.

Question to ponder: what is the definition of "insider?"

A Democratic donor from Miami has filed a complaint against state Rep. David Rivera, asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether the Republican congressional candidate violated campaign finance laws by "coordinating'' attacks on Democrat opponent Joe Garcia with a political committee intended to remain independent.

The complaint, submitted by criminal defense attorney William Barzee, alleges there is a link between Rivera's campaign and a group named Voters Response. The link, Barzee says, is Rivera spokeswoman Sarah Bascom, of Tallahassee-based Bascom Communications & Consulting.

Federal campaign finance reports show Rivera's campaign has not made any payments to Bascom.

Voters Response, a Florida electioneering committee that has sent out fliers attacking Garcia in the hotly contested race, has twice made payments totaling $3,000 to Bascom Communications, according to the reports.

"It's outside the rules,'' said Barzee. ``It's wrong and it's avoiding accountability.''

Unlike Florida law, federal campaign-finance law prohibits candidates from coordinating their campaign efforts with third-party groups.

But Bascom and David Ramba, who heads Voters Response, said the committee is not working with Rivera. Full story here.

The State Department is denying reports that the Obama administration is considering swapping the "Cuban Five" spies in U.S. prisons for a U.S. government subcontractor jailed in Havana.

The denial came a day after Cuban-Americans in Congress expressed concern over reports of a deal to free Alan Gross, held without charges since his arrest in Havana on Dec. 3.

"The United States is NOT considering the release of any member of the Cuban Five in exchange for Alan Gross," Mark Toner, director of the State Department's press office, wrote in a statement e-mailed to El Nuevo Herald on Thursday.

TALLAHASSEE — The Fix is reporting that the Republican Governors Association has gotten over the hard feelings surrounding GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott’s hard-fought win and is pumping another $2 million into ads attacking Democrat Alex Sink.

That explains how cash-strapped Florida Republicans are paying for a $1.3 million ad buy slated to start on Saturday, just as the college football season ramps up.

Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry.

Scott accuses Sink of "socialism"

"In Brandon, Orlando and Jacksonville,"

Scott and Carroll talked up the importance of creating jobs in a struggling Sunshine State and Scott criticized Democratic rival Alex Sink for supporting "the socialist policies of President Obama.''"Scott, running mate Carroll debut as team".

If Scott had spent some time in the pokey for fraud, he might have had had the opportunity to read a book or two on, say ... political systems. Then again, baseless name calling is a good way to rile up the Scott's teabagger base.

 

"Historic" laff riot

"Scott: 'Historic day' in choice of state Rep. Carroll as running mate".

"As Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott officially announced state Rep. Jennifer Carroll as his running mate Thursday, questions about when he chose the Fleming Island legislator and the experience she feels she brings to the ticket were left largely unanswered."

Touted for her legislative experience, Carroll would not give many specifics about her time in the state House. When asked about some of her proudest moments as a lawmaker, she encouraged a reporter to do some research.

"I don’t only have one," she said. "I have many, and you can certainly look up my resume."

When pressed on her tenure as a member of the Legislature, Carroll cited her work as chair of the House Economic Development Committee.

"There have been many measures that we put in place that created jobs, that reduced tax burden, reduced regulations on many companies to enable them to stay afloat," she said, without giving specifics.

Scott tried to characterize Carroll as the opposite of a career politician, although she has been a legislator in Tallahassee since her election in 2003 and was the head of Florida’s Veterans Affairs Department before that."Many questions surrounding Scott-Carroll ticket go unanswered".

 

Lawson disses Meek

"State Sen. Al Lawson endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate Thursday, saying "Charlie's always been there for us" when state employees, rural counties and universities needed help." "State Sen. Al Lawson endorses Charlie Crist for US Senate".

 

Crist releases internal poll

Daily Kos:

Given where public polling was on this race as recently as three weeks ago, it is hard to get a lot of confidence for Independent Charlie Crist based on the release of his own internal polling by Keith Fredrick. The new poll gives Crist a lead of just a single point, with Crist at 35%, Rubio at 34%, and Kendrick Meek well behind the pack at 17%. Crist did get some welcome news today, as he locked in a surprising endorsement in the form of state senator Al Lawson. Lawson just finished with a closer-than-expected primary challenge to Congressman Allen Boyd, one in which he challenged Boyd to his left. Lawson's defection is particularly notable, given that he is an African-American Democrat who is choosing Crist over Kendrick Meek, who is seeking to be the first African-American member of the U.S. Senate ever from the state of Florida."FL-Sen: Crist internal gives him (narrow lead), as he gains Dem nod".

 

Chiles will help Sink

Kevin Derby: "Lawton 'Bud' Chiles III made it official Thursday, pulling the plug on his gubernatorial campaign and endorsing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink." "Endorsing Alex Sink, Bud Chiles Exits Gubernatorial Race". See also "Bud Chiles will help Alex Sink's campaign for governor".

 

Population growth

"Florida's population grew slightly in 2009 after a one-year decline broke a steady string of growth dating to the end of World War II, according to preliminary estimates released Thursday. The University of Florida reported the state added an estimated 21,000 residents in the last year, bringing the state's population to 18,771,768. From 2008 to 2009, the state lost more than 56,000 people." "After a year of decline, Florida's population sees a slight amount of growth".

 

Entrepreneurs in action

"Hallmark Industrial Services, a company dogged by allegations of immigration and worker safety wrongdoing, had been working on oil spill cleanup operations in Florida". "Oil spill contractor with immigration, labor woes was involved in Florida cleanup".

 

Labor Day Insult in the Works

Hilda Solis is "Fighting for Workers This Labor Day".

In the meantime, we will be preparing the latest edition of the "Annual Labor Day Insult". Previous editions are here, here and here.

 

Rivera allegations

"A Democratic donor from Miami has filed a complaint against state Rep. David Rivera, asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate whether the Republican congressional candidate violated campaign finance laws by 'coordinating' attacks on Democrat opponent Joe Garcia with a political committee intended to remain independent."

The complaint, submitted by criminal defense attorney William Barzee, alleges there is a link between Rivera's campaign and a group named Voters Response. The link, Barzee says, is Rivera spokeswoman Sarah Bascom, of Tallahassee-based Bascom Communications & Consulting.

Federal campaign finance reports show Rivera's campaign has not made any payments to Bascom.

Voters Response, a Florida electioneering committee that has sent out fliers attacking Garcia in the hotly contested race, has twice made payments totaling $3,000 to Bascom Communications, according to the reports.

"It's outside the rules,'' said Barzee. "It's wrong and it's avoiding accountability.''

Unlike Florida law, federal campaign-finance law prohibits candidates from coordinating their campaign efforts with third-party groups.

But Bascom and David Ramba, who heads Voters Response, said the committee is not working with Rivera."Democratic donor seeks ethics probe of GOP candidate David Rivera".

 

Bomb scare

"Miami Airport Evacuated After Bomb Scare".

 

"Suspicious financial arrangement"

The Tampa Tribune editors: "State Rep. Kevin Ambler's lawsuit may not undo his Republican primary loss to Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman in the state Senate District 12 race. It may forever cast him as a sore - and litigious - loser."

Yet the effort could benefit the public if it serves to cast light on a suspicious financial arrangement that allowed Norman's wife to pay cash for a $435,000 lakefront home in Arkansas.

Norman says there are other investors in the house, and they want to stay out of the limelight. But no investors are listed on the deed, which is highly unusual for a real estate investment.

The 2006 transaction has been subject to all sorts of rumors, and Norman blames the accusations on dirty politics.

But he has refused to provide the specifics that could quickly put an end to the matter."A sore loser with good questions".

 

Right wing poll puts Scott on top

Daily Kos: "Team Ras-sie put both Rick Scott (FL-Gov) and Dino Rossi (WA-Sen) out in front today. The only poll that can come close to being construed as positive for Dems is the relatively small lead for GOP incumbent Sean Parnell in Alaska."

FL-Gov: Rick Scott (R) 45%, Alex Sink (D) 44%"THE RAS-A-POLL-OOZA". The poll: "Election 2010: Florida Governor".

 

Florida bankruptcies up

"Bankruptcies in South Florida up 5.7% in August".

 

Campaign roundup

"Chiles endorses Sink as he bows out, Scott barely leads Sink in new poll, Crist won't say who should be the next governor." "Campaign roundup for Thursday".

 

"Unlike other schemes, this one's legal"

The Orlando Sentinel editors: "Unlike other schemes to disenfranchise voters, this one's legal. That doesn't make it any less outrageous. And it doesn't excuse legislators for allowing it."

In 1998, Florida voters, by nearly 2-1, amended the state constitution to open primary contests to all voters, regardless of registration, when the winner would not face opposition in the general election. The intent was to ensure that all voters could have a say in choosing their elected representatives.

But two years later, the state Division of Elections issued an advisory opinion that upended the amendment. The opinion said a single candidate entering a race as a write-in would be enough to limit the primary to one party's voters — even though write-ins don't have to pay a filing fee or collect signatures like other candidates, and don't even appear on the ballot.

Republican or Democratic candidates who have little appeal outside their parties would rather run in closed contests. And in the years since the Elections Division cleared the way, scores of primaries around the state have been closed thanks to write-ins.

Usually these candidates don't even bother to campaign. They have no hope or intention of winning. There's no obvious motive for them to run other than to close a primary. State Sen. Dave Aronberg, a South Florida Democrat who tried for years to close the loophole, said write-ins usually are registered with the party whose primary they wind up closing."Close primary election loophole".

 

"Legislature lavishes tax dollars on an influential few"

The Tampa Tribune editorial board: "An opulent $48 million courthouse being built for the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee highlights the hypocrisy of a Legislature that purports to be fiscally conservative but lavishes tax dollars on an influential few." "In contempt of state taxpayers".

 

Wingnuts go after Grayson and Kosmas

"For those few Florida voters unfamiliar with attacks ads, the latest TV spot by the conservative Americans for Prosperity offers a classic take on the genre."

It features ominous music, testimony from everyday people and unflattering pictures of its targets: Democratic U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson of Orlando and Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach.

"Both supported Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda," one grandmotherly woman tells the camera, moments before the ad condemns their support of the $787-billion stimulus bill.

Americans for Prosperity paid about $420,000 to run the 30-second commercial for two weeks on Central Florida over-the-air and cable stations. The ad is part of a nationwide campaign by the Republican-Libertarian group – underwritten in part by New York billionaire David Koch -- and marks the opening salvo in what's expected to be a barrage of spending by outside organizations in Florida before the Nov. 2 general election."Out-of-state groups to pour millions into U.S. Senate, congressional races".

 

Fl-oil-duh

The Miami Herald editors: "Lift liability cap for oil spills". Related from Paul Flemming: "BP payments remain a mystery". Meanwhile, "Gulf Blowout II Ripples Across Florida". See also "New oil rig explosion causes political firestorm in Florida".

The Republican Party of Florida is pretty broke but today the money is flowing. The party found $1,302,720 million to buy ads yesterday, another round of attack ads aimed at Democrat Alex Sink. According to The Fix, the cash is another $2 million gift from the Republican Governor's Association. The RGA already spent $2 million prior to the primary hitting Sink.

The Democratic Governor's Association is sending money as well, although with a lot less cash. It sent a check to the Florida Democratic Party for $1 million to be spent hoisting Sink's gubernatorial bid.

Remember one reason why this race is more important nationally than the U.S. Senate race: reapportionment. In Florida, the governor gets veto power over the Congressional redistricting plan in 2012, a presidential election year, and Florida is expected to get one more seat, something both parties would dearly love to shape.

Meanwhile, Rick Scott right now is at the Associated Industries of Florida headquarters in the capital city for a fundraiser. AIF is the epitome of insiderville, home to some of the state's largest corporations and those willing to pay enough to hire them to lobby. It's also the place where Scott used to go as a one-time member of the AIF board.

 

TALLAHASSEE — In yet another statement harping on national policies he would have little influence over as governor, Republican nominee Rick Scott has released a statement blasting Democratic candidate Alex Sink and “Obamacrats” for the fact that the nation’s economy declined by 54,000 in July.

“Today’s report that 54,000 people have lost their jobs serves as a stark reminder to Floridians that the policies trumpeted by Alex Sink and President Obama are driving our economy down the drain,” Scott said in the release. ”From the stimulus to healthcare reform, the policies of the Obamacrats are only keeping more Americans out of work as opposed to my plan of reducing regulation and taxes to create 700,000 jobs in Florida.”

Here’s the national report.

But what Scott’s campaign strategy — to trash national policies that have upset voters, but largely have no relevance to the job of governor — seems to overlook is that Republicans have held the Governor’s Mansion for 12 years and the Florida Legislature for even longer.

In fact, his new lieutenant governor nominee, state Rep. Jennifer Carroll, has voted along with Republicans to use $16 billion in stimulus money over the last three years.

During the Republican reign of the last decade-and-a-half, they have cut taxes by tens of billions of dollars, outsourced and privatized scores of government contracts and programs, dramatically enhanced tax-incentive tools and slashed regulations for businesses. Scott’s scorched-earth strategy seems to overlook the fact that if there are any specific policies correlated with Florida’s jobs  funk — over-development, rampant real estate speculation, over-reliance on tourism and the sales tax to carry the burden of funding government programs — they are owned by the Republicans, the party he is rushing to schmooze and alternately bash.

Consider this statement released Friday by the Republican-administered Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation: “As we look ahead, we are continuing to see signs of recovery.  In June, four of Florida’s 20 metro areas saw job growth for the first time since the recession began, and last month, eight metro areas had gains in jobs.  Over the next eight years, Florida is projected to continue on the road to recovery and gain more than 1.1 million new jobs.”

Campaigning tonight in Delray Beach, Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek raised the stakes for his debate Sunday against Republican rival Marco Rubio on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"A lot of people running around here with low expectations, 'Oh my God, we need to start praying for Kendrick,' " the Miami congressman told a crowd of about 150 people. "Let me tell you something. You need to start praying for Marco."

The third major candidate in the race, Republican-turned-independent governor Charlie Crist, is taking a pass on the debate.

"The governor decided not to come. No position. No voice,'' Meek said. "That's fine because him and Marco Rubio agree on 96 percent of the issues. So he will be represented there, via Marco Rubio."

He added: "Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to make you proud on Sunday, and I am going to make sure that everyone who ever doubted my candidacy will know that I am there fighting on behalf of people of good will."

TALLAHASSEE — Just when you thought TV-land would get a prolonged breather from his now-famous bald visage, the Republican Party of Florida has launched a $1.3 million television buy to help GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott.

Yes, the same RPOF who said two weeks ago that Scott’s own $50 million ad barrage in the GOP primary was “a multifaceted campaign of misinformation” and “an effort to mislead Florida voters and confuse the facts.” 

We’re told the statewide buy slated to start Saturday will rotate one positive Scott ad with a negative ad hitting Democrat Alex Sink. The buy was enough to prompt the sink campaign to pre-emptively blast the ads in a fundraising solicitation to party donors.

“The positive response to our campaign already has Rick Scott on the attack,” Sink campaign chief Jim Cassady says in the e-mail. ”The Republican Party has purchased millions of dollars in TV ads filled with lies and distortions.  This is only the beginning of the onslaught of attacks we expect.”

Sink has already spent more than $2.5 million on television since mid-August.

This just in: the Florida TEA Party reports that a Tallahassee circuit judge has affirmed a place on the Nov. 2 ballot for  John DeVries, the party’s nominee to take on state Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Longwood, who’s the GOP Speaker-designate in 2014-16.

A release from TEA Party spokesman and political consultant Doug Guetzloe said Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford denied a motion of for an emergency injunction that would have removed DeVries from the November ballot.

The Republican Party of Florida and its allies have filed at least nine lawsuits — by the TEA Party’s count — trying to force its candidates off the ballot. The GOP has asserted numerous irregularities — such as filing fees being paid by TEA Party found Fred O’Neal and the fact that many of the candidates don’t live in the districts they want to represent. Thus far, though, the lawsuits have been unsuccessful.

“It is a great victory for the voters of Florida who are supporting the TEA Party movement and our political efforts and it is a great victory for the TEA Party (TEA),” stated O’Neal, the Windermere attorney who founded the party and argued DeVries’ case..

In the continuing saga between Florida Power & Light and the Public Service Commission, the Juno Beach-based company has filed a motion today asking that Commissioner Nathan Skop remove himself from any remaining cases in which they are involved.

The motion, filed by Tallahassee attorney Barry Richard, calls Skop's comments to the news media and his comments from the bench "increasingly more hostile and adversarial.'' Skop was not reappointed to a second term after being rejected by the Public Service Nominating Council.

If Skop agrees to recuse himself, the panel will be left with four members, including PSC Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano, who was also rejected for reappointment.

The motion accuses Skop of being adversarial when he accused an FPL lawyer of "blatant disrespect" for opposing Skop's request to bring FPL CEO Armando Olivera before the commission to explain why the company provided the commission outdated data on its nuclear costs. It says that Skop "has reserved his antagonistic behavior for FPL and displayed no similar behavior with respect" to Progress Energy. FPL also objected to Skop's comments when he suggested an FPL witness may have committed perjury and when he accused the company of "spin," "misrepresentations," and "selective discourse."

Richard also cited Skop's statements late last week when he was arguing to bring Olivera before the commission and said:

"I'm a regulator, I do my job, and I've lost my job because I've chosen to do my job. So again, I'm not backing down from FPL in any way. I can back up what I state."

FPL's motion calls those comments "egregiously inappropriate for a quasi-judicial officer." It claims that he "crossed the line from impartial arbiter to zealous adversary and that his personal animosity toward FPL has risen to such a level that he utterly fails to maintain even an appearance of impartiality."

Richard told the Herald/Times that while Skop's behavior had been increasingly adversarial in the past, "the last straw for the company" came during the nuclear cost recovery hearings last week.

Skop would not comment. The nuclear cost recovery hearings will resume Sept. 7, at which time Olivera will testify under a subpoena issued by Argenziano. 

The motion may have a chilling effect on other commissioners voicing their opinions about the company's response to regulators. Skop must now decide to remain or remove himself. If he refuses to remove himself, Richard said, the company could appeal it to the First District Court of Appeals, which he expects would rule fairly quickly. Here's the motion.



On Thursday Bill Segal picked up where his Aug. 24 primary campaign left off by calling a press conference to repeat his claim that his county mayor’s race opponent Teresa Jacobs is a lobbyist.

Commissioner Segal pointed to profiles of Jacobs on her employer’s website, one which initially referred to her “technical and political skills,” and then an apparent subsequent version which took out a reference to “political skills.”

Segal’s point: Jacobs has a “do as I say, and not as a I do” attitude regarding ethics issues. Even if Jacobs is ultimately found not to be a lobbyist, she’s still an “influence peddler,” he said in a parking lot press event that attracted a bank of TV cameras not far from Jacobs’ office. Segal also says it’s “totally inappropriate” for Jacobs to work for a company that she — and Segal — voted to award a contract to in 2005.

This alleged ethics “double talk” by Jacobs appears to be one of the issues Segal plans to push again, this time leading up to the Nov. 2 runoff.

Jacobs says she not a lobbyist and there’s no conflict with her past vote and current post, and Segal knows it.

But in purely political strategy terms, it’s an interesting line of attack for Segal.

Segal and the state Democratic Party pushed this same “Teresa’s a lobbyist” line in the primary. And that race ended with former Commissioner Jacobs gaining 42 percent of the vote, and Segal 23 percent. Did it work, or backfire?

Plus, one of Jacobs’ calling cards in that race was her record of pushing for tougher ethics, disclosure and public input measures. It would sort of be like Jacobs attacking Segal for his lack of business acumen — and please just ignore his three decades as a builder, investor and restaurant owner.

And Segal must know his lobbyist critique always invites the predictable Jacobs’ counter punch: Segal is trying to distract from his own issues with voting conflicts, hiding business partners, and attending No Name Club parties, the free, swanky all-male events co-organized by lobbyist and Segal supporter Fred Leonhardt.

Wouldn’t he rather leave ethics issues off the campaign trail’s front burner?

This isn’t a new fight. Jacobs sent a letter in July explaining what she does, and asking Segal to refrain from making this and other “false claims” about her job history and policy positions. Here’s that letter to Segal.

It apparently didn’t work. So now Jacobs is sending press calls to her boss.

Steve Tindale, co-founder of Tindale-Oliver & Associates, said he and others at the 50-plus employee firm “are pretty amazed” at being pulled into the mayor’s race by Segal. Tindale said Jacobs was not hired as a lobbyist, and that’s not what she does now for the firm, one that basically advises local governments on transportation issues.

“We don’t a have one [a lobbyist], we’re never had one, and as far as I’m concerned, we’ll never have one,” Tindale said

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott and his new lieutenant governor nominee toured the state, Thursday, after he announced his running mate pick as state Rep. Jennifer Carroll of Jacksonville.  Scott and Carroll appeared together in front of cheering supporters during the Orlando stop, at the Beardall Senior Center, near downtown. They also rallied in Jacksonville earlier in the day, with an appearance in Tampa slated for Thursday evening.

Click here for more photos from Thursday’s event.

ABOVE: Republican lieutenant governor nominee Jennifer Carroll, with Rick Scott, gives a thumbs up in Orlando, Thursday.   (Photos by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Jennifer Carroll waves to supporters, with GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott, as she arrives at a rally at the Beardall Senior Center in Orlando, Thursday.

Republican lieutenant governor nominee Jennifer Carroll responds to cheering supporters, with GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott (far right), his wife Ann Scott (far left), state Rep. Bryan Nelson (2nd from left) and state Rep. Sandy Adams, during the rally in Orlando, Thursday.

Running mate Jennifer Carroll and GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott react to supporters during the rally at the Beardall Senior Center, in Orlando, Thursday.

Republican lieutenant governor nominee Jennifer Carroll with GOP gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott as they arrive at a rally at the Beardall Senior Center, Thursday.

In a new television ad airing on Florida's Panhandle, Democrat Alex Sink say that while we're fighting the oil spill we "have to diversify our economy starting right now."

She says in the 30-second spot that she has a "detailed plan to develop new business and attract new business for Florida." Judge for yourself how detailed it is here. 

 

UPDATED: In a Leon County courtroom, the Republican Party of Florida made a last minute attempt to remove a tea Party candidate from the ballot in a Central Florida state legislative race. But time was an issue because the ballot gets certified at 5 p.m. Thursday and the circuit judge appeared skeptical about granting an injunction.

Rep. J.C. Planas, a termed-out Miami lawmaker, was hired by the party to argue the case on behalf of a voter in House District 34, Christopher Denion. (Rep. Chris Dorworth, a future House speaker, currently holds the seat.) Planas argued that John DeVries is a bogus tea party candidate and asked Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford to disqualify him for technical issues surrounding his paperwork and a loan from Florida Tea Party leader Fred O'Neal.

"What we have here is the RPOF verses the Tea Party of Florida," O'Neal said in his opening statement. "They are trying to take us off the ballot."

At the end of the day, the judge rejected the RPOF's efforts to get an injunction but Planas said he will push it to trial. He also said he will ask prosecutor Willie Meggs to file a criminal case against DeVries.

Planas said DeVries admitted on the stand writing a worthless check -- which if convicted would disqualify him. "We are going to expose the (Florida) Tea Party for what they are," he said.

The group, led by Orlando political consultant Doug Guetzloe, is under fire as a front group for Democrats. (And remember the name "Florida Tea Party" is also a matter of legal dispute.)

Even if Planas won the argument for an injunction -- and the judge was incredibly skeptical -- it was still likely DeVries name will appear on the ballot, given that the case is ongoing and a decision might not come at the end of the hearing. Not to mention, the Florida Tea Party, as a recognized political organization, can then nominate a replacement.

Planas said the case is a trial balloon, and if successful, will lead to more GOP efforts to remove Florida Tea Party candidates.

In a harshly worded letter to the federal government's BP claims czar Kenneth Feinberg, Senate President Jeff Atwater bascially tells him: don't screw up.

"I have become increasingly troubled by reports of delays in the claims process, artificial and capricious deadlines on filing, and an apparent insensitivity to the very real, long term impacts of this tragic accident on the families and small businesses of Florida,'' Atwater wrote. He then went on to say that he hopes he'll keep the victims in mind.

Yesterday, several members of the governor's oil spill recovery task force expressed similar frustrations.

Here's the letter:

September 2, 2010

 Kenneth R. Feinberg, Esq.

Feinberg Rozen, LLP

The Willard Office Building

1455 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Suite 390

Washington, DC 20004-1008

 Dear Mr. Feinberg:

Along with many of my fellow Floridians, I was relieved to hear that on June 16, President Obama finally appointed an administrator to oversee the claims process for the Deepwater Horizon accident, and that you, as administrator, had been specifically charged with fairly and equitably disbursing BP funds to the victims of this catastrophe. After many weeks of uncertainty, we took great comfort from the fact that there was now to be an impartial adjudicator in place to address the needs of Floridians impacted by this disaster.

In the intervening weeks, however, I have become increasingly troubled by reports of delays in the claims process, artificial and capricious deadlines on filing, and an apparent insensitivity to the very real, long term impacts of this tragic accident on the families and small businesses of Florida. I was shocked to hear you quoted as suggesting that pictures on television were the best indication that circumstances here in Florida are “fabulous.” Not only do the residents of Florida have to bear the ongoing pain of an uncertain future, but they have now been dealt the further indignity of having their legitimate concerns publicly and cavalierly dismissed by the very individual in whose hands their future economic viability has been placed. The citizens of Florida deserve far better. 

To that end, I would respectfully call upon you to commit to three overarching principles as you move forward with this process. First, you will do everything in your power to avoid adding needless layers of bureaucracy to the claims process, providing greater opportunity for Floridians to receive what is rightfully theirs due to the negligence of BP or any other party. Secondly, that there will be no interruption of the claims paying process, nor will you restrict the liability of any claimant, until the full and complete ecological impact of the oil release is understood within the larger scientific community. Finally, the end of the claims process will be determined by the needs of Floridians, not prematurely closed simply for the sake of expediency or to accommodate the wishes of BP. If Floridians are still making legitimate claims, there should be an ongoing and consistent process that recognizes the fluidity of the situation and grants claimants a fair hearing without surrendering any future rights to redress wrongs committed against them.

We cannot afford to compound the magnitude of the BP nightmare with ineptitude by the Federal government. I would expect to hear shortly that you have redirected your efforts towards the victims of this disaster, and that new policy changes will shortly be announced that are designed to quickly and efficiently deliver much needed aid and assistance to deserving Floridians.

 Sincerely,

Jeff Atwater

President

Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent U.S. Senate campaign has landed its most prominent Democratic endorsement so far — from state Sen. Al Lawson of Tallahassee, who for the past two years has been the Democratic minority leader in the Florida Senate.

It’s almost certainly no accident that Lawson waited 10 days after his narrow defeat by U.S. Rep. Alan Boyd of Monticello for the Democratic nomination to the District 2 congressional seat. Still, the veteran state senator — he’s the “dean of the Legislature,” having first been elected to the House in 1982 and then to the Senate in 2000 — may give Crist a boost in parts of the Panhandle. Lawson, the only African American to serve in the Senate from North Florida, has always run well among black voters in Gadsden County and points west. But the fact that Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Kendrick Meek is also African American may diminish Lawson’s impact with those voters.

Still, it can’t hurt Crist to be praised by what passes for a “big-name” legislative Democrat, especially compared to his previous legislative endorsees — Sen. Maria Sachs and Reps. Ari Porth and  Darryl Rouson.

“Florida desperately needs an independent Senator in Washington who will fight for good jobs and economic opportunity, a quality education for every child, and Social Security for all of our seniors regardless of what the political party bosses want,” said Lawson. “Charlie Crist will be exactly that Senator, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy.”

Charlie Crist just picked up an interesting endorsement in his bid for U.S. Senate: state Senate Minority Leader Al Lawson of Tallahassee. Lawson, who just narrowly lost a primary race against Congressman Allen Boyd, would be the most high-profile Democrat to endorse Crist's independent bid over Democratic Congressman Kendrick Meek.

Other Democrats include two lawmakers from South Florida, Ari Porth and Maria Sachs, as well as St. Petersburg Rep. Darryl Rouson.

From a Crist campaign statement: "Florida desperately needs an independent Senator in Washington who will fight for good jobs and economic opportunity, a quality education for every child, and Social Security for all of our seniors regardless of what the political party bosses want," said Senator Lawson. "Charlie Crist will be exactly that Senator, and I am proud to endorse his candidacy."

“I am honored by the support of Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson,” said Governor Crist. “Senator Lawson has been a champion for working families for his entire career, whether it be fighting for jobs, the environment, or good schools. I look forward to working with him when I’m elected to the United States Senate."

The Democrats are likely to lose 47 seats and control of the House of Representatives in November's elections, a top political analyst says in a new forecast Thursday.

Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, also says that the Democrats are likely to lose eight or nine seats in the Senate, eight governors' offices and 300 to 500 seats in state legislatures.

"The numbers are eye-catching. Republicans are dramatically gaining in all categories," Sabato said in an interview. "It's generated by a rotten economy and a strong conservative reaction against President (Barack) Obama." More here.